Sharks could spring Spedding surprise
6 Feb 2006
Dick Muir may give Scott Spedding the No 10 jersey for their vital Super 14 opener against the Chiefs on Saturday.
Muir has two options. One, he can play Percy Montgomery at flyhalf and JP Pietersen at fullback. Two, he can give Spedding a Super 14 debut, pick Monty at fullback and play Pietersen on the wing. Option two could get the nod, simply because Brent Russell is still injured, which leaves Muir with fewer options at fullback.
Spedding excelled for the Sharks B-team in their warm-up matches against the Bulls and Cats. In Sun City, the former Lions Craven Week star held his nerve to kick a last-minute match-winning penalty, and he scored two tries in Rustenburg a few days later.
Muir proved during the Currie Cup – when he selected Waylon Murran, Dusty Noble and Pietersen – that he is not afraid to back his youngsters.
“With the youth policy paying off, we now have a number of very special youngsters to choose from,” Muir told the SuperSport Zone. “A lot of these guys no-one would have heard of. Among them are Craig Burdon, a centre from Maritzburg College, who did really well, and then others were Scott Speding and [scrumhalf] Scott Mathie, [fullback] Greg Goosen, [centre] Brad Barrett.”
However, Muir admits his youth policy could backfire. “Our youth could be a big plus for us, but of course if you look at it another way, it could be a negative in that obviously these guys lack Super 14 experience and in that sense it is a bit of a gamble to select them.”
71 Comments
6 Feb 2006, 09:09 am
Simon
Will he be starting Tuilagi off the bench?
6 Feb 2006, 09:09 am
If I was a Sharks supporter I would be VERY nervous.
6 Feb 2006, 09:12 am
snoop – that is the natural state of the Sharks supporter in any case.
Still, would rather have a talented youngster to gamble with than no flyhalves whatsoever, like the Stormers.
6 Feb 2006, 09:15 am
Only surprise the Sharks could spring is scoring a try…
6 Feb 2006, 09:20 am
Bigg
That is funny dude!
I like the Sharkks but, they are going to have a torrid time!
6 Feb 2006, 09:31 am
Rob,
Let’s wait for **** Muir’s team and I would also go for Spedding at 10. Definitely unknown to most of the opposition. Leave Percy at 15 and play JP on the wing….
6 Feb 2006, 09:39 am
Bloubulsd – Thanks but I dont like the Sharks, Ask RobD!! He likes me allot…
6 Feb 2006, 09:48 am
I am starting to get very woried now. How come this is the first time that Brent Russell has been anounced injured? In 3 Weeks? Now I hear that Butch James might even miss the whole season.
6 Feb 2006, 09:49 am
ag bigg. I’ve learned to tolerate you. Kind of like a mosquito bite…
Charlie, I’m also tempted to give Spedding a run – he sounds like the real deal. Still, I don’t think it’s really fair to put that much responsibility on the shoulders of a youngster – we might risk damaging his confidence entirely (ala Gaffie – I reckon the same thing happened when they forced Pienaar to play FH last year) or even worse, he could get seriously injured.
I’m not thrilled at the prospect of Monty playing flyhalf either, though. I hope Brown and James get their **** sorted out ASAP.
6 Feb 2006, 09:50 am
It doesn’t matter who plays, all we should be wanting is for the sharks to kick the chiefs butt so that the rest of the teams realise that coming to SA for the Super 14 is not a 3 week holiday! We should be supporting all the teams to kick the oppositions butt and only let our provincial colours come out when there are derby matches!
6 Feb 2006, 09:50 am
x – where did you hear that? Re James?
6 Feb 2006, 09:52 am
CZ – yeah, we should, but the relegation debacle makes that really unlikely.
*****, the thought of Spedding trying to bring down that Lauaki thug makes my blood run cold. I wonder if Lem still has a pair of boots…
6 Feb 2006, 09:59 am
Rob, a supersport article.
“At this stage I would say it is unlikely Butch will play for us this season. We were hopeful in the beginning, but that is not the case any more. But if he does come through it will be a massive bonus for us as we all know what a class player he is and also what an important player he is.�
6 Feb 2006, 10:00 am
RobD – I am glad you know that I am only taking the piss re the Sharks… I actually dont really mind them like any other team. Regarding relegation I will have to admit I am a worried Stormers fan as I am sure you are worried too.I dont know what the f&*$ i will do if the Stormers are relegated.
6 Feb 2006, 10:01 am
robd
I read somewhere that Lem has played the most games at flyhalf for the Boks with an 88 % success rate
makes you damn nostalgic
6 Feb 2006, 10:06 am
bigg, so you can write a half decent reply
6 Feb 2006, 10:08 am
bigg,
If the Stormers get relegated…..start supporting the Sharks, it’s so obvious…Hahaha
6 Feb 2006, 10:12 am
x – I’m starting to warm to bigg… he’s not so bad when he stops being a tosser
**** – that’s bad news re Butch. He was my first choice to shore up the defence at 12. Looks like one of Strauss or Rees is going to have to take that on. Rees reckons he’s better than Trev (******* sacrilege – the oke should be shot for saying that) so maybe he needs to show us what he’s made of. I still reckon Strauss is a better long-term bet. Barrit is apparently also a superstar in te making, but you can’t play an inexperienced combo at 10 and 12. **** – where is that ******* kiwi?
6 Feb 2006, 10:12 am
Charlie – same goes for you, start supporting the Stormers…
X-fire – I know I talk **** sometimes… How do you get that yellow smiley??
6 Feb 2006, 10:13 am
If th Sharks win 4 games, and beat one other SA side, they will not come last.
I’d be more worried about being a cats supporter and not having anyone to shout for next year!!!
6 Feb 2006, 10:15 am
6 Feb 2006, 10:19 am
Rob,
Ja, that is bad news man. I was really counting on him comming through early in the season.
6 Feb 2006, 10:20 am
Sorry bigg,
But we will first have to see who is going to be relegated…:)
6 Feb 2006, 10:24 am
SS – we should manage that. We can definitely take the Reds, Force and Cheetahs at home. We’ll win one match away (we have to – possibly against the Canes). We do well at Ellis park as well.
6 Feb 2006, 10:27 am
Our backs are all very exciting, but there is so little experience there. ****, even Percy hasn’t played Super 12 in about 4 years. Davidson will be vital, if he can get fit, as will Henno. Let’s hope Gcobani decides to come to the party this season as well.
6 Feb 2006, 10:48 am
6 Feb 2006, 10:53 am
bigg, there has to be a space on both sides of your smiley for it to work.
6 Feb 2006, 10:55 am
Robd,
Care to take a friendly bet on the Sharks vs Cheetahs game?
Still don’t believe you guys have the defence in the back to contain a dangerous backline. The other problem is your loase forwards. Solly will need to have a storming year.
Also believe that Strauss will turn into the real deal. Can’t believe Freestate lost him.
6 Feb 2006, 11:04 am
Genl Joubert
Do you consider the Cheetahs a dangerous backline?
I’d love to see Muir give Spedding a go, it’s the first match of the season with time to rectify if it doesn’t pay off. Especially with Butch and Tony Brown coming back later. If it does pay off, what a find!!
It will be tough – up against Kelleher and Hill – baptism of fire.
6 Feb 2006, 11:06 am
Of course if the forwards give Spedding some good ball then the pressure on him will be less – I suppose it depends who **** chooses in his pack.
6 Feb 2006, 11:07 am
Spedding is a winner, Percy was not upto much at FLYHALF,in fact he is not a great fullback , the man is getting on in years, that leaves his kicking. Is he in the side for his kicking? — if so I hope his average gets better, he was tailing off a bit last year.
Go Spedding , well done ****, if you pick the youngster & he is not exactly small at nearly 100kg
6 Feb 2006, 11:13 am
RobD – the stormers haven’t had a flyhalf since, well forever. We’ve managed ok in the past.
6 Feb 2006, 11:15 am
Kevin w,
I think they will surprise a couple of people this year. Look out for Alwyn Hollenbach, Bevan Fortuin, Bosman and Goodes.
6 Feb 2006, 11:15 am
Kevin W my best mate – how are you? Have you missed me??? Looks like you will be supporting the Sharks in the Vodacom Cup next year – so nice to see you name pop up again
6 Feb 2006, 11:16 am
(:
6 Feb 2006, 11:17 am
X – Fire, I dont think my computer can do it, S%&*
6 Feb 2006, 11:22 am
ktb – stats on Spedding?
6 Feb 2006, 11:23 am
bigg, it is not a function of your computer. Just try type this sith the underscore “_” representing spaces “_:)_”
6 Feb 2006, 11:24 am
Genl – I hate betting. Makes me doubly upset if we lose!
6 Feb 2006, 11:26 am
6 Feb 2006, 11:31 am
“_:)_”
6 Feb 2006, 11:31 am
X – Ag f&*% it, it doesn t matter
6 Feb 2006, 11:32 am
Bigg, leave out the inverted commas and underscores.
6 Feb 2006, 11:34 am
Type this exactly [SPACE BAR][COLON][RIGHT BRACKET][SPACE]
6 Feb 2006, 11:37 am
x – not working for either, strangely enough
6 Feb 2006, 11:37 am
ok – weird. Looks like you can’t just post a miley on its own
6 Feb 2006, 11:43 am
6 Feb 2006, 11:44 am
rob, ja you are right.
6 Feb 2006, 11:47 am
6 Feb 2006, 11:48 am
You can robd,you just have too know how do do it!Just dont try to do it like the Sharks play rugby,then you WILL fail!
6 Feb 2006, 11:54 am
vleis… spill the beans, china!
6 Feb 2006, 11:57 am
robd,go to wordpress.org,they give all the codes for all smileys,but,you must download their newest version,takes a couple of minutes,and then you are smiling!!!:lol:
6 Feb 2006, 12:09 pm
back to the rugger – sharks have nothing to lose by giving spedding a go. he’s a specialist flyhalf and apparently a supreme talent. the kiwis seem to have no problems throwing the youngsters in and sometimes they’re naive enough to not feel the pressure. can’t wait to see the sharks backs in a few years – pienaar, spedding, barret, murray, pieterson, noble, cedric – enough talent! hope they’re still playing in the S14, that’s all.
6 Feb 2006, 12:27 pm
I like this Spedding. He might be the Sharks surprise of the season.
6 Feb 2006, 12:35 pm
Sorry for this, but I just have to give these little smiley efforts a test drive
6 Feb 2006, 12:39 pm
6 Feb 2006, 12:42 pm
>>
he should JP a shot at no.15. keep percy at 10, and no need to use spedding just yet. i think this percy is more effective at 10, and JP is a find at 15 [reminds me of juba]. give him a good run there. then we will see the youth policy paying huge dividends, mr muir!…
and why would we want to slot him [JP] on the wing as an option? he’s a thinker. you might as well put ME on the wing, cos this guy’s gonna light up the tournament, if you ask me.
6 Feb 2006, 12:43 pm
>>
and one more thing:
6 Feb 2006, 12:50 pm
I think JP is injured…
6 Feb 2006, 12:51 pm
>>roddylan
surely you jest
6 Feb 2006, 12:55 pm
nope – ““We do have a few injuries at the moment, but hopefully they are not too serious. Among the players we will be nursing a bit before we name our team for the Chiefs game are Brent Russell, Waylon Murray, Cedric Mkhize, Craig Davidson and Odwa Ndungane. JP Pietersen is also injured, which is a great shame because he is a very special player.â€?” **** Muir on http://www.superrugby.co.za
6 Feb 2006, 12:58 pm
Just place your mouse on an existing smiley to see what is typed to generate it!
6 Feb 2006, 12:58 pm
>>robdylan
oh crepe.
well, i’m sure we have the talent in this year’s squad.
can’t wait for the weekend!
6 Feb 2006, 12:59 pm
6 Feb 2006, 13:09 pm
SS – we should manage that. We can definitely take the Reds, Force and Cheetahs at home. We’ll win one match away (we have to – possibly against the Canes). We do well at Ellis park as well.
Comment by robdylan : February 6, 2006 @ 10:24 am
So Rob- putting money on The Cheetahs game?
6 Feb 2006, 13:16 pm
OO – I’m brave, not stupid!
6 Feb 2006, 13:25 pm
Wasn’t spedding a vaalie originally?
This is the good thing about the sharks, they are not afraid to try new things and use an attacking flyhalf. sounds like he carved the cats to pieces in the warm-up game.
again this is dissapointing from a cats perspective tho, would much rather have seen this fella than snyman, sounds like the kind of precosious spark needed at 10 to ignite players like Fourie, willemse and jantjies.
6 Feb 2006, 14:43 pm
Cab
Spedding played schools rugby in the Vaal ( craven week – see his stats on supersport zone
http://www.superschools.co.za/PlayerFixtureResults.asp?PlayerID=14706&StartYear=2001&sportCategory=SUPERSCHOOLS/SCHOOLSRUGBY
he was not considered good enough to make any senior teams there in 2005 and he took his chance when offered it at the Sharks.
6 Feb 2006, 15:12 pm
thanks yossarian, interesting reading, looks like the boy is a try scoring machine. Quite a decent size apparantrly too, which should suit JW.
6 Feb 2006, 16:07 pm
Robdylan, I read that he is 1.85/95kg & an run. He seems bigger than LEM & i BELIEVE this boy is the biz. I did hear a whisper that the SHARKS bought him from GAUTENG & the price whispered was r500000.
I cant verify that & the guy telling the story said it was a FORWARD, whith the name Spedding, so the “leak” could be talking through his nose.?
I am interested to know if the SAMOANS count as “black” for the unofficial quota’s. I dont mean any malice at all, merely curious.
We have 4 Samoans here now, all test players, a hooker, lock/8th man, centre, & a wing with the biggest thoghs in rugby – he weighs 114kg. Bit we can only have 2 internationals in our squad, so when Brown gets here [ if he does] then it will probably be FARANI [8TH MAN - 120 kg/1.95m]
who get’s the nod.
6 Feb 2006, 17:20 pm
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